Bonanza or Gunsmoke? - Page 2 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Crusinforabrusin · 02-11-2016, 09:54 AM

Both shows were good but I'll give a slight edge to Gunsmoke because it had a more realistic portrayal of the west

KatieAnn · 02-11-2016, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

A 4th brother? I've never seen or heard of a 4th brother on Bonanza. Do you perhaps mean the cousin?-- I think Will Cartwright, played by Guy Williams [Zorro, Lost in Space] was his name. He came and buddied up to his uncle and cousins, but turned out to be a crook, if I recall right.

The only "4th brother" I can think of is Little Joe's half brother, Clay Stafford. He appeared in one episode - the first episode in season 4 - called "First Born." Ben's 3rd wife (and Joe's mother) Marie was married and gave birth to one child with her first husband. She was told he died of "the fever" but he was really taken by her in-laws and raised by them. In a later episode they change a bit of Marie's backstory but in this episode I think Marie and her first husband were still together when this happened.

Clay is Joe's half brother so I guess he could be considered the "4th brother." Ben definitely welcomed him into the family and moved him into the main house when he found out that Clay was Marie's son. He caused trouble for the family and ended up leaving after some miners beat Joe up because of him, and he was never seen again.

AMackII · 02-12-2016, 12:03 AM

Gunsmoke because its better when its in the long hour format and it has Matt & Kitty together in the same show.

SherryCarl · 02-23-2016, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katmandu38

gunsmoke is the best western in tv history. especially the first 6 seasons.

I couldn't agree more !! I watch Gunsmoke everyday and I love the black and white episodes. I grew up watching the color ones on Saturday nights. I was so excited to find the black and white shows on the western channel. And the 30 minute episodes are truly classic.

I think Gunsmoke has a lot of humor. Especially between Chester and Doc, very funny.

treky · 02-23-2016, 02:29 AM

when you say "the western channel" do you mean ENCORE WESTERNS?

HarryWild · 02-23-2016, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdr

A 4th brother? I've never seen or heard of a 4th brother on Bonanza. Do you perhaps mean the cousin?-- I think Will Cartwright, played by Guy Williams [Zorro, Lost in Space] was his name. He came and buddied up to his uncle and cousins, but turned out to be a crook, if I recall right.

Yes, it was Guy Williams! I thought he was a brother but may have been a cousin! I just view Guy William's screen test for role of Lost In Space too! Very entertaining!

HarryWild · 02-23-2016, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatieAnn

The only "4th brother" I can think of is Little Joe's half brother, Clay Stafford. He appeared in one episode - the first episode in season 4 - called "First Born." Ben's 3rd wife (and Joe's mother) Marie was married and gave birth to one child with her first husband. She was told he died of "the fever" but he was really taken by her in-laws and raised by them. In a later episode they change a bit of Marie's backstory but in this episode I think Marie and her first husband were still together when this happened.

Clay is Joe's half brother so I guess he could be considered the "4th brother." Ben definitely welcomed him into the family and moved him into the main house when he found out that Clay was Marie's son. He caused trouble for the family and ended up leaving after some miners beat Joe up because of him, and he was never seen again.

Yes I remember the ending - was Clay Stafford, Guy Williams?

SherryCarl · 02-23-2016, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treky

when you say "the western channel" do you mean ENCORE WESTERNS?

yes I am referring to the Encore Western channel. It may be my favorite channel.

Svenfan1234 · 02-23-2016, 09:59 PM

Neither!

treky · 02-24-2016, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SherryCarl

yes I am referring to the Encore Western channel. It may be my favorite channel.

mine too. Only I wish they'd start showing BONANZA again; and not just the lost episodes, the entire series.

KatieAnn · 02-25-2016, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryWild

Yes I remember the ending - was Clay Stafford, Guy Williams?

Clay Stafford was played by Barry Coe.

Guy Williams played Will Cartwright, nephew of Ben and cousins of Adam, Hoss and Joe, in a few episodes during season 5.

oldschool59 · 03-18-2019, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiger32

I love both of these Westerns, but which one do you like best?

I personally liked Gunsmoke better than Bonanza. Matt Dillon would back hand you in a skinny minute and while there was gunplay on Bonanza, it was hard for me to wrap my head around 3 grown men living with their Pa on a ranch. Still I love both shows as they each bring a unique look to the old west. There was no other Marshall television who could walk in Matt Dillons shoes. Watch the for couple seasons when he was downright aggressive. That folks is a real man, something missing from society today. Then again thats just one old guys opinion, but one my wife says she is glad she got her one!

GentlemanJim · 01-16-2020, 10:02 PM

I grew up in a "Bonanza" household. Not sure if that's because my parents were giving me role models, or whatever. But we watched them every weekend, for years and years.

I don't think that I ever saw Gunsmoke until I started watching it on TVLand, in the very early 2000's.
Between TVLand running the color episodes and the Insp network giving good play to the black and white era...I think I've seen just about every one, at least twice.

I prefer Gunsmoke because the villains are portrayed as real people with issues they are dealing with/in pursuit of.

Most westerns portray "bad guys" as some sort of synthetic evil doer who get's out of bed in the morning thinking "okay, since I'm the bad guy, what can I do today that is really rotten"?

And I don't believe the vast majority of villains think that way.

Their motives might be selfish, or the result of torment, or mental illness....but usually they are just trying to thrive in their own twisted way, with inadequate respect for authority.
And I think Gunsmoke captures that mindset better than Bonanza.

I think that Bonanza (and many others) tend to exaggerate the driving evil inside their villains mostly as a way to sanctify the goodness of their heroes.

GentlemanJim · 01-16-2020, 10:09 PM

And I've argued this point with die-hard Gunsmoke fans ad-nauseam: "Morgan" is a far better episode than "Mannon"

Same actor playing the villain in both episodes, but "Morgan" pretty much nails it as far as the authentic 'bad guy' persona.

TSMIV · 01-17-2020, 12:47 AM

Gunsmoke by a mile. It's easily one of the top five best dramas in TV history. The best thing about Bonanza was the theme music.

02-11-2016, 09:54 AM	#16
Crusinforabrusin It's time to move on, Goodbye Senior Member Join Date: Dec 27, 2015 Posts: 2,056	Both shows were good but I'll give a slight edge to Gunsmoke because it had a more realistic portrayal of the west
	__________________ I've enjoyed reading through all the threads and posting here throughout the years, but now is the perfect time to say goodbye and move on to other things.

02-23-2016, 02:29 AM	#20
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	when you say "the western channel" do you mean ENCORE WESTERNS?
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

02-23-2016, 09:59 PM	#24
Svenfan1234 Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 12, 2015 Posts: 11,200	Neither!
	__________________ [

02-12-2016, 12:03 AM	#18
AMackII Member Forum Star Join Date: Oct 23, 2015 Location: St. Louis Posts: 17,207	Gunsmoke because its better when its in the long hour format and it has Matt & Kitty together in the same show.

01-16-2020, 10:02 PM	#28
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	I grew up in a "Bonanza" household. Not sure if that's because my parents were giving me role models, or whatever. But we watched them every weekend, for years and years. I don't think that I ever saw Gunsmoke until I started watching it on TVLand, in the very early 2000's. Between TVLand running the color episodes and the Insp network giving good play to the black and white era...I think I've seen just about every one, at least twice. I prefer Gunsmoke because the villains are portrayed as real people with issues they are dealing with/in pursuit of. Most westerns portray "bad guys" as some sort of synthetic evil doer who get's out of bed in the morning thinking "okay, since I'm the bad guy, what can I do today that is really rotten"? And I don't believe the vast majority of villains think that way. Their motives might be selfish, or the result of torment, or mental illness....but usually they are just trying to thrive in their own twisted way, with inadequate respect for authority. And I think Gunsmoke captures that mindset better than Bonanza. I think that Bonanza (and many others) tend to exaggerate the driving evil inside their villains mostly as a way to sanctify the goodness of their heroes.

01-16-2020, 10:09 PM	#29
GentlemanJim Concerns, Support, & Feedback Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 26, 2019 Location: The back country Posts: 5,443	And I've argued this point with die-hard Gunsmoke fans ad-nauseam: "Morgan" is a far better episode than "Mannon" Same actor playing the villain in both episodes, but "Morgan" pretty much nails it as far as the authentic 'bad guy' persona.

01-17-2020, 12:47 AM	#30
TSMIV Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 29, 2018 Location: Arkansas Posts: 695	Gunsmoke by a mile. It's easily one of the top five best dramas in TV history. The best thing about Bonanza was the theme music.